*Looking for more Halloween recipes? Try these soft and chewy Gingerdead Cookies!
Now that we’ve said our goodbyes to Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and the rest of the Breaking Bad crew, it’s time to turn the focus to AMC’s zombie magnum opus, The Walking Dead . Not familiar with it? Click here to order the complete first season on Amazon | $16. Here’s my pseudo-synopsis:
One day, Mr. Sheriff Man (Rick Grimes) awakes from a food coma only to discover that the zombie apocalypse befell Earth while he was snoozing in his hospital bed. At first dazed and confused, then Hell-bent on finding his family, he embarks on his quest for companionship and survival. Sounds a lot like every other zombie movie/show, right? Sure, until the story diverges from the age-old tragic tale to weave a plotline that isn’t afraid to devour the lives of major characters and spit up the bones.
In Walking Dead, nothing is off limits. Relationships are built, fostered, and severed, “home” is as ambiguous as the blurred line between life and death, humanity vacillates between pure and fearful and evil, and every day works natural selection through its paces.
My advice? Watch it, but don’t get too close to any of the characters… otherwise you’re in for a serious bout of separation anxiety when the show’s brilliant writers (almost inevitably) pluck them out of the picture.
In the spirit of both the Season 4 kickoff and Halloween, I’ve put together a deliciously creepy cupcake recipe, complete with a couple of great Wilton decorating products.
These Walking Dead/Halloween inspired cupcakes include a ghastly pale almond base infused with a vein of red, American [horror] buttercream, sinister black sprinkles (yes, this may be only time you see “sinister” and “sprinkles” in the same sentence), bloody decorating gel, and candy knives and “toxic” signs stabbed straight through the top.
Eat them before they eat you.
Click here to buy the Wilton Candy Knives on Amazon! | $5
*NOTE: the beautiful antler prop with inlaid stones is a unique art piece by local artist Betsy Youngquist. If you are interested in seeing more of her incredible beadwork, be sure to check out her website! Also, extra points if you remember the Walking Dead scene that the antler nods to!
Walking Dead Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon almond extract
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- Red food dye
- 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) salted butter, softened (NOT melted)
- 3 ounces (about 1/3 block) cream cheese
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or other desired flavor, such as coconut or almond)
- 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream (or more for desired consistency)
- Wilton decorating gel in red
- Black sprinkles
- Wilton Candy Knives
- "Toxic" cupcake toppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and add liners to cupcake pan.
- Stir together flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.
- Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Keep mixer on and add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract, beat until fully incorporated.
- Add half the flour mixture and mix on low, then repeat with the remaining half.
- Pour in milk and mix.
- Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full.
- Add a 1-2 drops red food coloring to each cup of batter, swirling with a toothpick.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed in an electric mixer for about one minute.
- Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating well between each.
- Add vanilla (or other flavoring) and beat.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream and beat. Continue adding more, one Tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached (be VERY careful it doesn't get too liquid-y!)
- Spoon buttercream into a piping bag and pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
- Top with sprinkles, knives/toppers, and red decorating gel as desired
- Store in an airtight container (I recommend freezing until the day you plan to serve them!)
Looking for more Walking Dead baking ideas? Try these adorable Walking Dead cookies from Not Your Momma’s Cookie or these creepy-cool Walking Dead cookies from Semi Sweet!
Kailley’s Kitchen is all decked out for Halloween!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Breaking Bad and Walking Dead – love it both! And these cupcakes are adorable!
Kailley @ Kailley's Kitchen says
Thanks so much, Chung-Ah!! I love making themed cupcakes. Some themes are harder to capture in a tangible way than others, but it’s fun to get creative with it!
Cookie says
LOVE THESE and LOVE Walking Dead! Your synopsis is hilarious BTW.
Kailley @ Kailley's Kitchen says
Aw, thanks, Cookie! It’s a lot easier to have fun writing about something when I’m passionate about it!
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate says
I love the little knife garnishes, so cute!
Kailley @ Kailley's Kitchen says
Thanks, Mallory! Aren’t they great?! Wilton never fails to impress me with their ever-expanding list of creative decorating products!
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day! Love your knife in the cupcakes, true!
Wish I could come through the screen and try one of these right now too!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Nancy’s Your Best Recipes Oct 2013